Top 10 Travel Rewards Credit Cards
Travel rewards credit cards are financial products designed to offer benefits and perks to frequent travelers. These cards typically provide points or miles for every dollar spent, which can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel-related expenses.
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The main appeal of travel rewards credit cards lies in their ability to help users save on travel costs while also enjoying various perks. Cardholders often receive generous sign-up bonuses, which can be enough to cover a significant portion of a trip right from the start. Additionally, many travel rewards cards offer benefits such as airport lounge access, travel insurance, priority boarding, and fee waivers for foreign transactions. These perks can enhance the overall travel experience by providing comfort and convenience. However, it's important to note that travel rewards cards often come with annual fees and higher interest rates, so they are best suited for individuals who pay off their balances in full each month and travel frequently enough to justify the costs.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardView AllChase Sapphire Preferred® Card - Travel rewards card with premium benefits and flexible points.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardView AllCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card - Travel rewards, unlimited miles, no foreign transaction fees.
American Express® Gold CardView AllAmerican Express® Gold Card - Rewards points, dining perks, and travel benefits.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®View AllChase Sapphire Reserve® - Premium travel rewards card with extensive benefits and perks.
The Platinum Card® from American ExpressView AllThe Platinum Card® from American Express - Luxury travel rewards card with extensive perks and high fees.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardView AllCapital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card - Premium travel rewards card with extensive benefits and perks.
Citi Premier® CardView AllCiti Premier® Card - Travel rewards card with versatile point-earning categories.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit cardView AllBank of America® Travel Rewards credit card - No-annual-fee travel card with unlimited 1.5 points per dollar.
United℠ Explorer CardView AllUnited℠ Explorer Card - Travel rewards card with United Airlines benefits and perks.
Top 10 Travel Rewards Credit Cards
1.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a popular travel rewards credit card offering substantial benefits, including 2x points on travel and dining and 1x points on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards® for travel, cash back, or gift cards. Cardholders receive a 25% points bonus when booking travel through Chase. The card also includes valuable perks like primary rental car insurance and no foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for frequent travelers.
Pros
High rewards on travel and dining
Valuable sign-up bonus
No foreign transaction fees
Comprehensive travel insurance
Points transfer to travel partners
Cons
Annual fee
Requires good credit
Limited lounge access
No intro APR offer
Rewards redemption complexity
2.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a travel-focused credit card offering unlimited 2 miles per dollar on every purchase. It features a generous sign-up bonus and flexible redemption options, including travel expenses and transferring miles to airline and hotel partners. The card includes travel perks like no foreign transaction fees and travel insurance. With an annual fee of $95, it's ideal for frequent travelers seeking straightforward, valuable rewards.
Pros
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Unlimited 2x miles on every purchase
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No foreign transaction fees
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Flexible redemption options
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Generous sign-up bonus
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Travel benefits and protections.
Cons
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Annual fee after the first year
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High APR for some users
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Limited travel partners
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Requires good/excellent credit
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No introductory APR offer.
3.
American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card is a premium charge card offering robust rewards, particularly for dining and supermarket purchases. Cardholders earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 annually). It also features 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or via Amex Travel. Benefits include dining credits, travel protections, and no foreign transaction fees. With a stylish metal design, it's ideal for frequent travelers and food enthusiasts seeking valuable rewards and perks.
Pros
- High rewards on dining
- Generous grocery rewards
- No foreign transaction fees
- Annual dining credits
- Flexible redemption options.
Cons
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High annual fee
- Limited acceptance abroad
- Rewards categories capped
- Complex rewards system
- Requires good to excellent credit.
4.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel rewards credit card known for its generous benefits and flexibility. It offers 3x points on travel and dining, a $300 annual travel credit, and access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide through Priority Pass™ Select. Cardholders also enjoy perks like trip cancellation insurance, primary rental car insurance, and no foreign transaction fees. The card comes with a significant annual fee but provides substantial value for frequent travelers.
Pros
- Generous rewards
- Travel credits
- Airport lounge access
- Comprehensive travel insurance
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- High annual fee
- Requires good credit
- Limited transfer partners
- High spending for max rewards
- Complex rewards system.
5.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card offering a host of luxury benefits, including extensive airport lounge access, generous travel credits, and exclusive hotel perks. Cardholders earn Membership Rewards® points on purchases, with accelerated points on travel-related expenses. The card also provides elite status with select car rental and hotel loyalty programs, comprehensive travel insurance, and personalized concierge services. A substantial annual fee is offset by these high-end features and benefits.
Pros
- Luxury travel perks
- Extensive rewards program
- Airport lounge access
- High welcome bonus
- Concierge service.
Cons
- High annual fee
- Limited acceptance
- Complex rewards system
- Requires excellent credit
- Potential for overspending.
6.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium travel rewards card offering 2x miles on all purchases and enhanced rates on travel bookings through Capital One Travel. It features a generous welcome bonus, a $300 annual travel credit, and complimentary lounge access. Cardholders also benefit from no foreign transaction fees and various travel protections. Ideal for frequent travelers, the card's annual fee is offset by extensive benefits and rewards-earning opportunities.
Pros
- Generous rewards rate
- Travel credits
- Lounge access
- TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- High annual fee
- Limited transfer partners
- Requires good credit
- Potential for overspending
- Limited domestic travel perks.
7.
Citi Premier® Card
The Citi Premier® Card is a versatile travel rewards credit card that offers 3X points on air travel, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, and 1X points on all other purchases. With no foreign transaction fees and an annual fee of $95, the card provides valuable benefits for frequent travelers. It also offers a sign-up bonus of points after meeting a spending threshold within the first few months. Points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, or transferred to airline partners.
Pros
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High rewards rate
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No foreign transaction fees
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Annual hotel savings benefit
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Wide acceptance
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Points transfer options.
Cons
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Annual fee
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Limited bonus categories
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Requires good credit
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No intro APR offer
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Rewards redemption complexity.
8.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card offers unlimited 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases, with no annual fee or foreign transaction fees. New cardholders can earn 25,000 online bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days, redeemable for a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases. Ideal for travelers seeking simplicity, this card offers flexible redemption options and additional benefits for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members.
Pros
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases
- Flexible redemption options
- Introductory APR offer.
Cons
- Requires good to excellent credit
- Limited travel perks
- No travel partner transfers
- High variable APR
- Few premium benefits.
9.
United℠ Explorer Card
The United℠ Explorer Card is a travel rewards credit card offering exclusive benefits for United Airlines frequent flyers. Cardholders earn 2 miles per dollar spent on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases. Benefits include a free first checked bag, priority boarding, and two United Club℠ one-time passes annually. The card also features travel and purchase protections, no foreign transaction fees, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® fee credit.
Pros
- Free checked bag
- Priority boarding
- 2 United Club passes
- No foreign transaction fees
- Earn miles on purchases
Cons
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Annual fee
- Limited lounge access
- High APR
- Limited to United Airlines
- Limited travel benefits compared to premium cards